Fall-block.



J. G. POX.

FALL BLOCK.

APPLIOATION FILED 001220, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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wuuuou JOHN C. FOX, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

' FALL-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application filed October 20, 1913. Serial No. 796,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. Fox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mo- Keesport, in the county of Alleghen and State ofPennsylvania, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Fall-Blocks, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

My invention aims to provide a fall block constructed to provide amaximum safety from personal injuries and also to greatly reduce theliability to such injuries to those required to handle it. Manyaccidents are caused when using these blocks practically through thecarlessness upon the part of the workmen using them, in grasping thecable while the same is in motion, or by grasping the cable to assist inattaching the block while not in motion but which may be accidentallystarted.

In my design, I have provided a covering for the normally open topportion of the block, which will absolutely prevent the indrawing of thefingers or the hand to the main sheave wheel. This cover portion extendsbetween the two side plates normally, used and above the main sheavewheel and is apertured for the passage of the ropes or cables. In itspreferred form, I make this cover portion of substantially planeformation and disposed in' a horizontal relation when the block isoperatively suspended,-

whereby it will be noted that the cables and cover portion aresubstantially at right a-n gles to each other, thereby obviating allcrowding or wedging and the workman being caught unawares with his handsin a dangerous position. I have also provided two idler sheaves,disposed opposite each other and adjacent the cover portion to preventabnormal wear of the cable by its engagement with the walls of theapertures through the cover portion, due to its natural swinging oroscillation when in use. In this latter form, I desirably extend thecover portion well around the corners of the block to also protect theworkmen from the action of these idler sheaves.

Further objects of my invention will be apparent from a detaileddescription of the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters ofreference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure l is a view showing my fall block in section, such section beingtaken directly behind one of the face plates, and, Fig. 2

is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

In embodying all .of the above objects in one device, I have providedopposing face plates 1 of substantially triangular form having flangedportions 2 at their upper ends, such flanged portions extending wellaround the upper corners of the plates as shown at 2. Reference to Fig.2 will show that the block, as a whole, is split centrally whereby theface plates can be made interchangeable. The main sheave 3 is journaledat approximately a central point between these two face plates upon ashaft 4 provided with threads 5 at its opposite ends and securely heldin position by means of nuts 6, each locked against rotation'by a cotterpin 7. The main sheave itself rotates about a bushing 8 of somewhatgreater length than the width of the hub portion of the sheave itself,thereby preventing a binding action when the nuts 6 are drawn tight. Thecover ortion formed by the cooperation of the fanges 2 and 2 is providedwith apertures 9 through which the rope or cable 10 is adapted to pass,these apertures being arranged to be about midway between the workingsurface of the main sheave 3 and idler sheaves 11 carried between theadjacent upper corners of the face plates. These apertures are of a sizeto permit free passing therethrough of the cable 10 and the purpose ofthe idler sheaves is to prevent the cable 10 from entering or leavingthe fall block in anything but its true path of travel or in otherwords, to prevent this cable from entering or leaving in any mannerexcept in true alinementwith the grooves of the main sheave, wherebywear upon the cable itself is reduced, by preventing its engagement withthe outside walls of the apertures 9.

It will be apparent that due to the natural swinging or oscillation of afall block when in use, one or the other of the idler sheaves 11' willcome into pla to insurethe correct path of movement 0 such cables andwill prevent excessive swinging or oscillation. As will be seen from thedrawings, these idler sheaves are mounted upon bolts 12 each carrying abushing 13 constructed similar to the bushin 8. Nuts 1 1 are alsoprovided to assist in Einding the two face plates together in a mannersimilar to the nuts 6. The lower portions of these face plates carrybetween them a hook 15 of well known construction, such hook beingprovided with a swivel mounting as is customary inthese devices. Asupporting bolt 16 having its ends threaded and carrying nuts 17 isprovided and has a central aperture through which the shank of the hookis adapted to ass and to be headed over as shown at 18. n this mannerthe hook may rotate about its axis or may be made to oscillate about thebolt 16.

' From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be apparent that a type of device has been providedwhere it is practically impos sible for a workman to injure himself,owing to the elimination of such inclined wedging surfaces as are commonto these blocks, at the top or entrance end thereof. Further, idlersheaves 11 have also been provided for protecting the cable itselfagainst wear, these sheaves being also guarded by the housing or flangedportions 2*.

What I claim, is:

1. A fall block comprising a pair of side plates, a main sheave journaled between said side plates, a cover portion spanning the distancebetween said side plates at the top portion thereof, said cover beinapertured for the sheave ropes, a swivele hook carried between saidplates at the bottom thereof, and a pluralit of idler sheaves mountedbetween said p ates directly beneath said cover portion.

' meme? 2. A fall block comprising a pair of side plates, the upperportlons of said plates bemg substantially horizontal when the block isheld operativel suspended, a cover portion of substantia ly planeformation spannmg the distance between the upper por tlons of saidlates, a sheave journaled between said ates, said cover being aperturedfor t e sheave ropes, and' a hook mounted between said plates at thebottom thereof.

3. A fall block comprising a pair of substantially triangular sideplateshaving one of their legs disposed in a horizontal position when theblock is held operatively suspended, a cover portion of substantiallyplane formation spanning the distance between the horizontally disposedportions of said plates and extending an appreciable distance around thecornersv thereof, a main sheave journaled between said side plates, saidcover portion bein apertured for the sheave ropes, a pair of i lersheaves mounted between said plates, one in each of said protectedcorners,-and a hook mounted between "said plates at the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 0. FOX.

Witnesses: K

WALTER E. L. B0011, A. PHELPS.

